Hale Barns (Davenport Green)

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

RE: Hale Barns (Davenport Green) - 15/04/2007

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

A year on, and 4 Lesser Whitethroats were singing in a rare sunny morning. Take wellies cos it ain't 'alf muddy! 3 singing males dotted around in the fields north of Shay Lane and one female. 2 in areas seen last year so directions mentioned below somewhere. They all seem to favour Blackthorn patches of hedgerow where the understory of hedge hasn't been eaten away. Mornings are best, I rarely hear them in the evenings for some reason.
Also around included 4 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat, 24 Carrion Crows, 1 Moorhen, and 2 Mallard.
Thanks. Henry.

Mark Evans · Status: Offline

lesser whitethroat taking what looked like nesting material into a large bramble patch near the dried-up pond past the end of butteryhouse lane

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Well, where I had the redstarts was taking the right hand turn over the style just before the style and gate. Go through this field, over the bridge+style at the bottom of a small valley and the redstarts were in the hedgerow surrounding this field. Hope this helps.

Henerz

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

I parked up at the end of Buttery House Lane with the one house on the lane
lane to the left of me, then went straight ahead to the styal with the public
footpath signs.

Where from here????

Cheers

Phil

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Hi Phil, the best area for Redstart and Lesser Whitethroat i've found is from going along Buttery House Lane off the east end of Shay Lane opposite Davenport Hall, and then turning right at a signposted public footpath beyond the bungalow along this lane. Cross this field, with possible Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Tit in the hedgerows+woodland and over a small 'bridge+style combo thing' into another field. The border of this field with its mature hedgerows have been the best spots for Redstart (2 so far) and Lesser Whitethroats (3 singing from the one field).
Please post your sightings from the area as i'd be very interested while i'm away at uni. smile

Cheers
Henerz

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Quick walk round this afternoon at 1pm.

1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Swallow.

Caught a glimpse of a possible Red Legged Partridge.

Certainly a very good site for Warblers and will post any further information
as and when.

Where have the Redstarts been seen????

Phil

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Whereabouts is this area from Whitecarr Lane????

How far down Shay Lane for the Lesser Whitethroats???

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

20/04/2007 - No further sign of the Ring Ouzel on Shay Lane in Horse Paddock, can't believe I dipped the only rarity the area has ever had, lol weirdface

4 Lesser Whitethroats (Singing) still north of Shay Lane in Blackthorn+Bramble thickets. Also 1 Skylark (patch tick), 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Swallow, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 (male) Reed Buntings, Moorhen, Mallard + Bullfinch family (with nestlings already!) etc.

-- Edited by henerz1 at 09:43, 2007-04-20

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

Crankwood, near the Abram Flashes - just to the east - can certainly manage 3 singing birds but haven't had time to check it out yet.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

I'd be interested to know if there is a better site than this for Lesser Whitethroat in the county - 4 singing males within a very small area - outstanding!

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Thanks Judith for the info. I will ring soon. The farmer only keeps sheep and I believe they were shooting game so it needs to be sorted.

No shooting this morning and lots of birds on show. Its strange when Lesser whitethroats outnumber the commoner Whitethroats which has been the case all week! Nice therefore to see my first Whitethroat of the year with 4+ Lesser Whitethroats competing for the airwaves. Best of the rest was a pair of Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Stock Doves, Grey Heron, 2 Mallard, 2 Moorhen and a Kestrel.

Henerz

P.s. Just found a report of a Ring Ouzel along Shay Lane last night. Just been for a long search but there was no sign... cry

-- Edited by henerz1 at 12:49, 2007-04-19

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

It's the close season now until mid August (for Pheasants and Partridge) and September for everything else. The only birds that can be shot are corvids and Woodpigeons, and I think there has to be a reason for that (eg crop damage) Contact your local Police Wildlife Liaison Officer PC Glyn Walsh (Trafford WLO) on 0161 856 0250 who is good and should be able to advise you - try to have the details of the farm or land where the shooting was taking place.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Shooting laws depend on the land as well as time of year.

I think that Judith Smith might be able to give you some guidance.

Much of that area is public footpath so I'd have thought that there were some restrictions just based on safety.

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Ah yeah, think it was me. Guess what... I was photographing another lesser! Nearly ran back to tell you two but glad you'd seen so many anyway. Did you make the max total 4 then?

Female Redstart still around but shooting was going on and the bird was flighty so didn't get great views. Hopefully see you around soon.
Henerz

p.s. are they allowed to shoot pheasants + partridges at this time of year??? Very annoying as even the bird which aren't shot all vanish till the next day furious

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Finally caught up with the Lesser's this afternoon - 1 pair beyond pond, and two other singing males - even managed acouple of record shots - great to have these little beautys so close to home - so cheers Henerz!

Also the Redstart still around but very flighty, again beyond the pond, and 3 Buzzard, 2 Red-legs and 3 Swallow amongst the commoner birds.

Suspect I'll be back soon so hopefully might bump in to you one morning - in fact I hope that wasn't you arriving as we left this evening if so apologies for not letting on - we were late and you looked like you were trying to photograph something?!

-- Edited by Rob Smallwood at 16:40, 2007-04-18

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

18/04/2007 - 10.00am - North of Shay Lane, off Buttery House Lane.

1 Redstart (Female - on the right hand track, in the right hand hedgerow by the small bridge+style.)

2 Lesser Whitethroats (in similar areas as previous days)
1 Raven (flew over)
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Reed Bunting (m+f)
2 Stock Dove
1 Swallow
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap (m)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Nuthatch
1 Goldfinch
1 Bullfinch (m)
2 Mistle Thrush
3 Song Thrush
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard

Possibly heard the Willow Tit in similar area to the Redstart but couldnt find it this morning.

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

After crossing the 'bridge+style combo thing' carry on walking along the left hand side hedge row to a small lake with oak trees behind. Left of the oak trees is an open gate - 1 of the lesser whitethroats was in the hedge here this morning. The other was by the right hand turn towards that 'bridge+style combo thing'! They like the blackthorn which is in flower atm (i think it's blackthorn anyway). hmm

Hope this helps. I will try and get a map drawn of the area soon. bleh
Henerz

-- Edited by henerz1 at 21:20, 2007-04-17

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

No problem - but still unsure of location of Lesser White's - can you confirm - will try and get there again tomorrow.

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Definate Willow Tit calling this afternoon (17/04/2007) turning right at the end of butterhouse lane and turning right straight after the bridge+style combo thing!
Cheers Rob for the tip off. smile

Also a Comorant flew over (from the rostherne direction towards the mersey) and a Swallow but no sign of the Redstart.

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Yeah Rob thats about exactly where one of the lesser whitethroats was singing from. The other was just by the right hand turn from butterhouse lane but flighty.
Cheers about the info on the willow tit I will go out for another search soon. Not seen one of those in the area before!
Any info on where the probable willow tit was?
Henerz

-- Edited by henerz1 at 15:38, 2007-04-17

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

A later walk (about 9:00) revealed the Redstart still present in the far corner of the field over the footbridge and stile taking the first right hand public footpath from Buttery House Lane.

Couldn't trackdown anyLesser Whitethroat though, althoughI didn't have long to search.

Was I in the right rough area for te Lessers? I tried this path nearly to the end, and the followed the lane tojust beyond where the public footpathsplits into three.

Also seen, Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and a probable Willow Tit.

What a lovely spot too - much more scenic than the Moss!

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

17/04/2007 - Early morning walk produced some great birds for the area. A Tawny Owl flushed from its roost along Shay Lane, whilst in the fields north of Shay Lane were 2 Lesser Whitehthroats (both showed well and were singing), 1 Stock Dove, 1 (male) Reed Bunting, 3 Linnet, 1 Lapwing (which attempted to nest last year), and highlight was a female Northern Wheatear in a field leading to Timperly Brook.

3 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaff were singing away but no sign of Blackcaps/Garden Warblers around here so far.

Just ouzels to find now! idea

Henerz

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Another walk this afternoon (16/04/2007) was brilliant with a male Redstart showing in the fields off Shay Lane again. It was flighty but eventually put on a decent show in hedgerows at SJ801868.

The Lesser Whitethroat was still around and gave better views in the sun whilst singing. Other birds included 3 Stock Dove, 4 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Goldfinch.

-- Edited by henerz1 at 17:44, 2007-04-16

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Hale Barns (Davenport Green)